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| It is a serious conversation. Teens and Young Adults are self medicating. You can't watch them all the time; they have a great big world out there to explore and experience.
They have friends who will offer them an aspirin, or pamprin, or a tube of muscle cream. They will see products in Mom & Dad's medicine cabinet, or Grandma's and Grandpa's cabinet and think the product is safe and therefore okay for them to use. Any product containing Aspirin or Salicylates are not okay for teens and young people to use.
As our children grew up, we as parents did not give them aspirin products. Doctors told us not to, and often explained why. As our children get older, we need to tell them what the risks are in using aspirin containing products.
Reye's Syndrome strikes swiftly. It is not a disease that only affects very young children; it can strike any child, teen, young adult, or adult without warning. We've documented cases from several months in age to 80 years of age.
The cause and cure remain unknown, and research has established a link between Reye's Syndrome and aspirin along with other medications containing Salicylates. (Lists are available here: Prescription, Over The Counter Drugs, Topical Products.)
With teens, especially, the symptoms of Reye's Syndrome are often misinterpreted as a Drug Overdose, or a Drug Reaction. If you suspect Reye's with your child, don't hesitate to insist on several tests being run. You can print the Emergency Room information sheet by clicking here. Take this sheet with you to the emergency room and show it to the doctors.
Joshua's Story;
My son, Joshua, a sophomore at Hampshire College in Amherst MA died from the complications of Reye's Syndrome in 1994... he was 19 years old.
At the time his illness began, he was a healthy six-foot college sophomore, happy with his life and the college of his dreams. He was growing into a wonderful young man and excelled in his course studies at the college he loved.
He called me one snowy day to say he was not feeling well. He asked what he should do. I advised him to go to Student Health and call me right after his appointment. The doctor said he had the flu. Based on the symptoms he described, I told him he should come home and we would see our family doctor. It seemed to me he had Mono. He came home and saw our family doctor who confirmed that he did indeed have Mono.
The treatment was simple...get plenty of rest and drink lots of liquids. The problem was that as the days progressed, he continued to get sicker. We went back to see the doctor every day for several days. Then he was admitted to the hospital, discharged and admitted again. Still he was no better.
He was admitted once again and this time he was critical. Our doctor either thought there was nothing to worry about or he didn't know what he was dealing with. Josh had test after test and still there were no answers.
Finally, Joshua was transferred to another hospital... the last time Joshua spoke was in the ambulance. When we arrived at the hospital we were met by a team of doctors and while taking him to intensive care they requested a signed consent form for a liver transplant. Every possible test was done, and finally the diagnosis of Reye's Syndrome was made.
Doctors put Joshua into a drug induced coma, and on life support. He continued to get worse and on March 4th, he suffered brain death. On March 5th we disconnected life support and he stopped breathing immediately. His death occurred 2 weeks after he was diagnosed with the flu and one week after being admitted to the medical center.
Joshua's Mom states;
"I strongly believe education is the best prevention. I know I was aware of not giving aspirin to children with viral infection, but I didn't consider the over the counter medications we all take may contain aspirin.
"Since Joshua's death, the hospital has instituted a protocol for Reye's Syndrome because they did not know what they were dealing with in Joshua's illness.
"There were a combination of issues that played a role in Joshua's death from Reye's Syndrome. Our trusted doctor did not take Joshua's illness seriously and the other doctors who treated Joshua ran tests but didn't know what they were dealing with. Our primary care physician was fired for his negligence. When Joshua was admitted to the hospital for the last time our physician went to a medical convention out of state. He called me when he returned to ask about my son. It was too late, Joshua had died.
"It is my strongest belief that parents, doctors and hospitals need to be educated about Reye's Syndrome. I am finally able to write about this 13 years after his death and would like to offer my assistance in helping to accomplish this important goal."
Let Joshua's Story be a learning experience, one that keeps our young people alive and safe from the threat of Reye's Syndrome.
So tell them Why.... tell them about Aspirin and about the products that contain aspirin (salicylates). Teach them to read the lables.
Tell them about Reye's.... they can pass the word to friends that offer them an aspirin, alka-seltzer, or pamprin, pepto-bismol or muscle creams that contain salicylates.
Let's keep them alive, healthy and happy. Tell them Why... Tell them about Reye's.
Here on the Foundation's website, literature, lists, posters and more can be downloaded and passed on to students, families, schools, daycare centers, health departments, physicians... to anyone who could benefit from having this information. |
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BULLETIN:
Reye's Syndrome is a very serious disease. Children and adults develop Reye's Syndrome as they are getting over a viral illness, such as the flu or chicken pox. Reye's Syndrome usually affects people from infancy through young adulthood; however, no age group is immune. Although Reye's generally occurs when someone is recovering from a viral illness, it can develop three to five days after the onset of the illness. The disease targets the liver and brain. Reye's Syndrome is non-contagious, and too often is misdiagnosed as encephalitis, meningitis, diabetes, poisoning, drug overdose, or sudden infant death.
Early diagnosis is crucial. Following a viral illness, individuals should be watched during the next two to three weeks for the following symptoms:
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* Relentless or continuous vomiting
* Listlessness; loss of pep and energy
* Drowsiness; excessive sleepiness
* Personality change; irritability, slurred speech, sensitivity to touch
* Disorientation, confusion; unable to identify whereabouts or answer questions
* Combativeness; striking out at those trying to help them
* Delirium, convulsions, or loss of consciousness
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Reye's syndrome should be suspected in anyone who vomits repeatedly. Call your doctor immediately if these symptoms develop. Voice your concern about Reye's Syndrome. If your physician is unavailable, take the person to an Emergency Room promptly. Two liver function tests (SGOT, SGPT) can be done to determine the possibility of Reye's Syndrome. There is a 90% chance of recovery when the syndrome is treated in its earliest stages by physicians and nurses experienced in the treatment of Reye's.
Studies have shown that using aspirin or aspirin containing medications to treat the symptoms of viral illnesses increases the chance of developing Reye's Syndrome. If you or a member of your family have a viral illness, do not use aspirin or aspirin containing medications. In fact, you should consult your physician before you take any drugs to treat any viral illness such as the flu or chicken pox, particularly aspirin or anti-nausea.
The National Reye's Syndrome Foundation (NRSF), the U.S. Surgeon General, the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that aspirin and combination products containing aspirin not be taken by anyone under 19 years of age during fever-causing illnesses.
Aspirin is a part of the salicylate family of medicines. Another name for aspirin is acetylsalicylate; some drug labels may use the words acetylsalicylate, acetylsalicylic acid, salicylic acid, salicylate, etc., instead of the word aspirin. Currently, there is no conclusive data as to whether other forms of salicylates are associated with the development of Reye's Syndrome. Until further research has answered this question, the NRSF recommends that products containing any of these substances not be taken during episodes of viral infections.
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The NRSF is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization with affiliates located in 44 states. The NRSF has pioneered the movement to disseminate knowledge about the disease in an effort to aid in early diagnosis and also provides funds for research into the cause, cure, care, treatment, and prevention of Reye's Syndrome.
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What Is Reye's Syndrome?
Reye's Syndrome is a disease which affects all organs of the body, but most lethally the liver and the brain. Reye's Syndrome is a two-phase illness because it is almost always associated with a previous viral infection, such as influenza, cold, or chicken pox. Scientists do know that Reye's Syndrome is not contagious and the cause is unknown. Reye's Syndrome is often misdiagnosed as encephalitis, meningitis, diabetes, drug overdose, poisoning, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or psychiatric illness.
Reye's Syndrome tends to appear with greatest frequency during January, February, and March when influenza is most common. Cases are reported in every month of the year. An epidemic of flu or chicken pox is commonly followed by an increase in the number of cases of Reye's Syndrome.
When Reye's Syndrome develops, it typically occurs when a person is beginning to recover from a viral illness. Abnormal accumulations of fat begin to develop in the liver and other organs of the body, along with a severe increase of pressure in the brain. Unless diagnosed and treated successfully, death is common, often within a few days. A person's life depends upon early diagnosis. Statistics indicate an excellent chance of recovery when Reye's Syndrome is diagnosed and treated in its earliest stages. The later the diagnosis and treatment, the more severely reduced are chances for successful recovery and survival.
Stages of Reye's Syndrome:
- Stage I:
Persistent or continuous vomiting
Signs of brain dysfunction:
Listlessness
Loss of pep and energy
Drowsiness
- Stage II:
Personality changes:
Irritability
Aggressive behavior
Disorientation:
Confusion
Irrational behavior
Combative
Delirium, convulsions, coma
Reye's Syndrome should be suspected in a person if this pattern or symptoms appear during or, most commonly, after a viral illness. Not all of the symptoms have to occur, nor do they have to be displayed in this order. Fever is not usually present. Many diseases have symptoms in common. Physicians and medical staff in emergency rooms who have not had experience in treating Reye's Syndrome may misdiagnose the disease. The symptoms of Reye's Syndrome in infants do not follow a typical pattern. For example, vomiting may be replaced with diarrhea, and they may display irregular breathing.
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The Foundation's Top Objectives are:
 ... AWARENESS - to aid in early detection and educate the public and medical communities about the risk involved with using aspirin and other salicylates.
... SERVICE - to provide emotional support and guidance to families experiencing the trauma of Reye's Syndrome.
... RESEARCH - to support investigation into the disease's cause, management, treatment and prevention, as well as study its impact on survivors.
If this site has proved helpful to you, a donation from you would assist us in keeping this site up-to-date. To make a tax deductible donation to the National Reye's Syndrome Foundation, click here.
To become a member of the National Reye's Syndrome Foundation, click here.
Know that your donations and memberships allow us to continue spreading Awareness about Reye's Syndrome to new mom's, new medical professionals, caregivers, schools, daycare centers, churches, and immigrants, and to a global population who can now access this website. You make a difference, a life and death difference. -- Thank You.
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